2025 Accounting MOVE Project launches

Registration is now open for this year’s Accounting MOVE Project, with the theme “The Cost of Losing Talent — Why Belonging is Essential for Firm Resilience and Growth.”

The Accounting MOVE Project is an annual survey of accounting and financial firms that measures demographic data and workplace culture to help advance women and other underrepresented groups in the profession. Firms can participate in the 2025 MOVE Project by registering on or after April 10. The survey opens May 7 and closes July 11. Research results and the 2025 Best CPA Firms for Women and Best CPA Firms for Equity Leadership will be announced at the annual Women Who Count conference in October and published online.

The key research areas are on how firms can retain talent and safeguard for long-term growth, why diverse and inclusive teams are essential for competitiveness and client service, how firm leaders are responding to political, legal and cultural pressures, and actionable strategies for building engaged and resilient workforces. This year, MOVE is partnering with the Center for Accounting Transformation.

“Our research shows that recruiting diverse talent isn’t enough; firms must invest in retention to truly thrive,” Donny Shimamoto, founder of the Center for Accounting Transformation and founder and managing director of IntrapriseTechKnowlogies, said in a statement. “Ignoring this issue isn’t an option for firms that want to remain competitive.”

“Partnering with the Center allows us to deepen our research and provide firms with concrete strategies to build sustainable, people-centered cultures,” said Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk, president of the Accounting MOVE Project.

The MOVE Project will also research its core areas of “money,” “opportunity,” “vital supports” and “entrepreneurship.” Firms can join MOVE by either participating in the annual MOVE survey for no fee, or by upgrading to receive a firm-specific report.